Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-07-21
ABOUT UMBRELLAS.
THEIR ORIGIN ASSOCIATED WITH
SHADE Rather THAN MOISTURE.

The Umbrella Relic of Solar wor-
| .hip-Mr>. Camps Sunshade-The Fash
ionahle Article - Folding Up silk
Imbr-Ila-a Surc Test
There are those who suppose that the
origin of the umbrella is To he sought for
| in mans need "t some portable protection
from the rain which need found eNpres-
sion In the invention nt the modern UNI
hrella phiiuluEN and science. however,
point To "A diffvrrIr; conclusion. the former
telling uS that the umbrella Is associated
with shade rather than moisture, and the
latter that il l. "A relic OF solar worship.
The word umbrella is redupliCated
form OF the Latin word umhra. Signitying
shade. ami means really a little shade,
in the same way that Caliga QcgCingSl il
father To the word "caligula' llittle leg
gings).
Having decided the origin OF the word,
We will next proceed to give the view OF q
certain learned specialist as to the deriva
ton of the article itself The umbrella,
according 10 our authority. is a relic of
solar worship, was probably imported
from Persia. and its origin has no more 10
do with keeping OIL rain than with keep
ing off lightning or thundcrboltS. The
Persians, il is well known, were Worship
ers of the heavenly bodies, the sun occu-
pyiug the same place among their her-
8rChy of deities as he does among his own
orbs. Viewing him all powerful. as
all intelligent, cognizant of the smallest
act of their lives. the Persians hit at last
upon sort Of portable screen which they
might interpose between themselves and
his beams. securing for the former pri-
vacy and for the latter ignorance OF what
his devotces were doing This may sound
a rather far fetched theory, but it is prob
ably the true one. and whether or no, il is
certain umbrellas did not originate in
either Europe or America.
THE UMBRELLA ABROAD.
In Siam the possession of umbrellas Ia
restricted to those of high rank. Mr.. Spen-
Ger telling Us that one Of the titles of the
dusky monarch there is King of the Um-
brella Wearing Chiefs" In the two great
university owns of England etiquette dis
countenances under graduates appearing
on the streets with umbrellas. and only
permits the airing of these luxures 10 fel-
lows and graduates. In fiction the person
of Mrs. Camp has conferred on the UNI
brells an Immortality which not even the
muse Of tragedy could do. Indeed, the
umbrella cuts but a poor figure in the
tragedy. while 1t is quite at home in the
Nights of comedy or farce. Mrs. Camps
sunshade Is SO famous that it has given its
name To those fluffy, obese looking articles
which one il apt to associate with the
ranter of old times and with modern rep
resentatiyes Of the Lime Kiln club. The
fashionable umbrella is as different
looking affair to one of tb.s. as II ia nos.
sible TO imagine A great.r contrast does
not exist between a racer and a CIydes-
dale than between the modern umbrella
and its woolIy prototype of q generation
ago The former is made of silk. il in
yarisbly black. brown or green in bue ia
fitted 20 n light but strong framework.
and whether viewed as a use or an orua-
ment is an eminentlv pleasing object To
contemplate
The umbrella Is sometimes used as a
weapon OF offeuSe aud defense. but is
rather poor affair II You want TO
strike your enemy a good .sswssbinu
blow YOU had better have recourse Ia |
some other implement than an umbrella.
Viewed in this light, il presents more IA
cihties for being used stiletto wise than as
A claymore Ur cutlass. Everything to its /
uses, and as You can't expect TO keep rain
of with foil. so you must not hone To
draw blood with an umbrella. II the lat ,
ter is Disappointing as weapon of offeuse
So il is as "A weapon of defense.
rur s,r ,,,D,,,.
you are 'iis t'ssessor vi SIX UNI
piella an" "ie "eSious VI aPPralsihs its
iueri's' SEE "ha' proportion 'ne spread OF
~ ""er oi",i 'eale 70 'he uiame'er wneh
snu,- 10 lhe sN'eh' the relation partakes
vi 'he iia'u'e Vi All inverse fatio, 10 that
sNVen. . is smut ut,ipivlia sooa one rod
tls up s'ih uHl"ieiia Is quite an ART, the
ACQUISITION ot "ihch seems wholly impos-
the tips firmly together in your right